Then Let Your Soul Be Scattered to the Winds

"If it weren't for the unique nature of the battle between my consciousness and his that required you to survive until the 'endgame,' you wouldn't last half a minute here. Even those two psychic-sensory Flame-Chaser couldn't help you."

Only Elysia and Qianqi, who are deeply involved in this clash of consciousness, can intervene in their struggle. Su, who has been monitoring from the outside, and Aponia, who has done everything she can to give Lin another chance, can only remain in the shallow realm of consciousness.

This also means that they have no way to deal with the Herrscher of Binding.

If the two-in-one Lin is killed, disrupting the ending, then Lin's original consciousness will also die. However, if nothing is done, when the ending arrives, Lin's real body will be taken over by the Herrscher of Binding, Elysia and Qianqi's consciousness will die, and a second Herrscher of Binding will be born.

This is an unsolvable situation.

"Kill me."

Lin's calm tone caused the two girls and Kevin to change their expressions.

"Hahahaha, why do you think they entered the consciousness world? Of course, it's to save you!" The Herrscher of Binding, occupying the left side, let out a twisted laugh. Despite having the same face, its expression and laughter were so terrifying. "Even if they die themselves, they won't let you die."

"..."

"Finally, I won, Lin."

"..."

"In the end, this was not fate, but me, my victory."

He was so ferocious, yet Lin listened to him with such calmness.

"... I see. No wonder you were born inside me. In a sense, we are the same person."

"The same person? Hmph... How could that be? You are not me, and I am not you."

The Herrscher of Binding's tone gradually calmed as he spoke to his "companion," with whom he had been one since birth. "I am not another you; I am merely the Herrscher of Binding."

"If you don't want to follow your fate, then why did you choose the path of the Herrscher?"

"Because I want to destroy humanity, and the reason is not because of my identity as Herrscher."

Their voices gradually overlapped.

"It's like even if you know that your love for humanity was forcibly injected into you, and you've seen all the ugliness of humanity, you still love humanity."

"Me too... that's all."

Chapter Sixty-Six: Then Let Your Soul Be Scattered

"We have nothing but love and hatred."

Lin and the Herrscher of Binding are not two sides of the same coin; this relationship is denied by the Herrscher of Binding himself.

There is no reason, nor is a reason needed.

Now, everyone was at a loss. Elysia and Qianqi watched Lin nervously, while Kevin couldn't understand what had happened. Only Lin's expression remained normal.

He recalled the conversation with another part of his consciousness before facing death with equanimity.

"Don't you regret it?"

The person who resembled Mei stood still.

All Lin possessed were memories within this space of consciousness; most of Lin's original memories were now possessed by the "Mei" before him.

In other words, her death means that Lin's main consciousness will lose most of its memories.

Forgot the bright spot of student days that shone through the gloom, forgotten the reasons for fighting so hard, forgotten the friends and companions they loved, and even... forgot themselves.

"It doesn't matter, as long as they can survive." Mei replied expressionlessly. Her thoughts were not complicated, so she would not hesitate.

They gave their lives for him, so he would be willing to lose everything for them.

It wasn't that complicated to begin with.

Lin Wuran looked up at the empty sky and said, "Aponia, help me."

"..."

The Herrscher of Restraint on the left side was surprised at first, and then sneered.

Aponia was indeed a great threat to him, far more terrifying than Qianqi, the Herrscher of Reason who lacked most of her powers, but she shared the same problem as the two before him.

She acted to save Lin, not to kill him.

Human emotions, like the destiny she spoke of, are deeply entangled in the fragile consciousness of these people, and can easily fall apart with the slightest tug.

Even if Aponia does everything she can to help Lin, what then? In the end, all she does is kill both his and Lin's consciousness. Can that Nun accept that the person she loves will end up like that?

Would she accept her lover, who has endured countless hardships, sacrificing everything for humanity in the end?

"It doesn't matter."

However, Lin's soft, gentle words made the air freeze.

Suddenly, everything around them turned into a surging sea of blood, engulfing them.

"Splash."

Elysia opened her eyes groggily, waking up in the cold, foul-smelling seawater. The churning, bubbling sea of blood startled her as she regained consciousness.

Then all her memories and consciousness returned. She covered her head, her face pale, and stared at the bottomless sea of blood.

"Elysia".

"Forest!"

A head of short black hair, soaked with blood, and a warm, strong hand grabbed her wrist, dragging her into the sea of blood.

The brilliant sunshine evaporated the blood.

The gentle sea breeze caresses the soul.

The black-haired boy stood quietly on the surging sea of blood, holding her hand. His clear eyes lost their aggressive sharpness and met her gaze gently.

"Lin... long time no see, or is this the first time we've met?" Elysia managed a weak smile on her pale face.

That smile must look awful.

There was a feeling in my heart that something was about to be lost.

"Yes, it's been a long time." Lin reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. His fingers brushed against her face, making her tremble slightly.

She already foresaw what was going to happen next.

"There are other ways, Lin."

Laugh.

The muscles in his face were strained as he forced a smile.

You must smile at him as usual, because...

Because he definitely loves Elysia's smile the most.

"That's all." The black-haired boy's voice was gentle, yet it made the pink-haired girl's heart tremble.

How many years has it been?

Ten years have passed since they met.

Whether it's the bitterness stained with blood or the sweetness of those memories, they all represent ten years of their lives.

The boy before me once had nothing, which is why he cherishes the people around him and the memories etched in his mind. For him, what he truly possesses are these memories that accompany him.

The smiles of the departed, their faces, their voices, burning little by little.

She said, her voice trembling, "I have so much more to say to you."

He said so gently, "Let's talk about it later. There will definitely be plenty of time to listen to you..."

A wave crashed in, and the boy vanished.

Qianqi stood bewildered on the sea of blood.

Painful memories rampaged through her mind, and she stood numbly, drenched in this endless rain of blood.

She failed to protect Lin...

It turns out that it had already ended long before it even began.

The image of Lin lying in a pool of blood in the world of consciousness echoed in her mind. Her expression was distorted as she covered her head and opened her mouth wide.

Ah...

I want to cry out in pain.

But it couldn't even make a sound.

Ah...

My body felt as if it had been torn into pieces.

Cold.

Pain.

I want to die.

I want to die...

"Smack."

The cold was dispelled, and the pain was stopped.

Qianqi raised her head, her face covered in blood. Her beautiful face was contorted with confusion and bewilderment. A hand gently rubbed her brow, smoothing away her monstrous expression.

"Forest..."

The black-haired boy shook his head at her.

"I know, I know everything."

He knew...

Ah... I see... In the world of consciousness, have you discovered... her past?

"Thank you for everything you've done for me."

He hugged the girl tightly, and she, who had been enduring loneliness, collapsed into his arms, tears streaming down her face.

"This time, it's my turn."

"... I never expected Aponia to do this. Does she really not care about your life or death at all, all for the sake of your wish?"

With short, silver-white hair and Prismatic Eyes that dispel the blood mist, the man, whose body is wrapped in bandages, floats above the sea of blood.

Not far away, a man with black hair and black eyes stood opposite him.

This is where their destiny began.

He was born here, and they parted here.

"Do you hate me?" Lin Xinping asked calmly.

"No." The Herrscher of Binding shook his head. At this moment, he was neither ferocious nor terrifying. He seemed to be Lin, and Lin seemed to be him. "I was born because of you."

"I am Herrscher, you are human, that's all."

"..."

Language is no longer needed.

Lin put his two fingers together and held them in front of his nose, forming a sword finger. A long sword tore through the clouds and cleaved through the sea of blood.

Tai Xu Sword God.

"Do you know what will happen when you strike with this sword?" The Herrscher of Binding coldly stared at the sword.

"What happens?"

"In Shenzhou terms... you will be annihilated."

Lin's lips trembled slightly, curving into an almost imperceptible smile.

"Alright, then let their souls be scattered."

"Bass----"